Buying Guide (for Mobile Devices)

Mobile Device Guide

This guide will help you choose a Smartphone or Tablet that is compatible with Wharton's environment. After reading this guide, you should be able to purchase a mobile device, configure it to work with your Wharton email account and satisfy your other mobile computing needs.

Steps for Purchasing a Mobile Device

Choosing the right device: There is a vast selection of smartphones and tablets to choose from, limited only by those that your mobile carrier provides. Before purchasing a device, we recommend you research product features, performance specifications, and user-submitted reviews. A positive or negative review could help determine which device is right for you.

Choosing the correct data plan: To access your Wharton email account on your phone you will need to purchase a data plan or have access to wifi. We recommend that you speak with your mobile carrier about the types of data plans they offer in order to decide what would best fit your needs. Normal user activity involves:

Sending and receiving email

Web browsing

Calendaring- scheduling and accepting appointments

Accessing useful Wharton applications

Mobile devices that will best work with your Wharton email account

Wharton Computing does not recommend one specific type of mobile device. However, the guidelines listed below should help you determine which type of device will best suit your needs. Penn Computing also has a mobile platform guide that you may find useful.

Windows Phone

Windows Phone can:

Sync with your Wharton account content. Using Outlook Mobile and the Microsoft Activesync software, you will be able to sync your Wharton account email, calendar, contacts and tasks associated with your Wharton account wirelessly.

Note: If you buy a tablet, we don't recommend using it as your primary device. While it can be useful as a way to access some of your course materials, you will still need to purchase a laptop or use the Wharton public computers to access certain programs that aren't available through tablets yet. However, many students have found the iPad to be useful in class and for accessing electronic course materials.

Note: If you buy an e-reader, we don't recommend using it as your primary device. You will still need to purchase a laptop or use the Wharton public computers to access certain programs. E-ink devices are not supported.